PPQ Form 519A APHIS Regulated Garbage Compliance Agreement Approval Te

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United States Department of Agriculture
APHIS Regulated Garbage Compliance Agreement Approval Template

The purpose of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
regulated garbage regulations is to protect American agriculture and natural
resources by preventing the introduction and spread of foreign plant and
animal pests and diseases. All APHIS regulated garbage must be handled and
disposed of in accordance with the United States Department of Agriculture,
APHIS policies, which are written in support of the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), Title 7 CFR 330.400 through 330.403 and Title 9 CFR
94.5.
Any person who knowingly violates the Plant Protection Act (PPA) (7 U.S.C.
§§ 7701 et. seq.) and/or the Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA) (7 U.S.C.
§§ 8301 et. seq.) may be criminally prosecuted and found guilty of a
misdemeanor which can result in monetary penalties, a one-year prison term,
or both. Additionally, any person violating the PPA and/or the AHPA may be
assessed civil penalties of up to $300,000 per violation or twice the gross gain
or gross loss for any violation that results in the person deriving pecuniary gain
or causing pecuniary loss to another, whichever is greater.

Establishments (e.g. companies, business organizations) interested in handling
regulated garbage must submit a letter of request for approval to handle
APHIS regulated garbage (see example) along with the information requested
below, as applicable. See also the Procedure to Request Approval to Handle
Regulated Garbage.
Establishments must comply with other Federal, State, and local requirements.
APHIS cooperates with other Federal, State, and local agencies responsible for
enforcing other statutes and regulations governing APHIS-regulated garbage.

When Is Garbage Regulated?

APHIS Regulated Garbage: Garbage becomes regulated by APHIS per
definition in 7 CFR 330.401 and 9 CFR 94.5 (c) when generated onboard the
conveyance (ocean vessels and aircraft) only when the garbage is on or
removed from the conveyance. Commingling: Garbage, trash or other material
not regulated by APHIS that is or has been commingled with regulated
garbage is also regulated garbage.
Notes



APHIS regulates garbage when it is aboard or removed from a means of
conveyance that has been in any port outside the United States and
Canada within the previous two-year period or to any port in Hawaii or
any United States territory or possession in the last one-year period.

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

Trash is refuse that neither contains nor is visually contaminated with
APHIS regulated garbage. Trash is not regulated by APHIS and is
therefore unrestricted. For example, trash that solely contains empty soda
cans would be unrestricted. Newspapers and magazines in the passenger
cabin would also be unrestricted unless commingled with regulated
garbage.



The currently approved methods of disposal (processing) for regulated
garbage are use of a sterilizer, incinerator1, or grinder.2

NOTICE
To stay up to date with any changes in the regulated garbage program, sign up for
the APHIS Stakeholder Registry.

Core List of Requirements to Handle APHIS Regulated
Garbage

Please ensure you have thoroughly reviewed the following core requirements,
in addition to completing the establishment request for approval template
(checklist) below.
1. Establishment Operating Procedures: A description of how the regulated
garbage will be contained, handled, and transported in tightly closed/
sealed, covered, leak-proof receptacles (e.g., plastic bags of at least 3 mil
thickness or permanently labeled containers) and a description of the
color,3 tag, or label associated with plastic bags that uniquely identifies the
regulated garbage handled by your establishment. See Guidelines for
Writing Operating Procedures for Handling APHIS Regulated Garbage.
 Uneaten meals on aircraft must be handled as regulated garbage,
unless they are under compliance agreement for back-catering.
 Garbage, trash or other material not regulated by APHIS that is or has
been commingled with regulated garbage is also regulated garbage.
2. Equipment: Equipment (including, but not limited to receptacles such as
dumpsters and compactors)4 used to move/store unprocessed regulated
garbage must:
 Be inaccessible to birds, rodents, insects, and other vermin.
 Be closed 3 mil leak-proof plastic bags if bags are the method of
containment.

1 Incinerators must reduce garbage to ash (other than metal and glass).
2 APHIS will advise if any alternative methods are approved.
3 Red receptacles (including plastic bags, trash cans, carts or any containers similar in size or shape
to those used for medical waste) must not be used for APHIS regulated garbage.
4 Vehicles used to transport the regulated garbage must be enclosed with rigid cover.

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 Be uniquely identified outside the container and if words are used,
marked with “REGULATED GARBAGE” or a similar acceptable
phrase in English and any appropriate foreign language. If approved,
the APHIS compliance agreement holder must ensure that these
“Regulated Garbage” markings be displayed at all times during the use
of such receptacles for Regulated Garbage activities including storing/
hauling per the compliance agreement. Containers used for regulated
garbage with evidence of contamination with regulated garbage must
be cleaned and disinfected according to APHIS requirements.
 Be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with APHIS requirements
before being decommissioned, only if there is evidence of
contamination with regulated garbage. The containers must also:
(a) Not be used for any material not regulated by APHIS, unless the
container’s markings have been removed; (b) Have markings
obliterated if used for a purpose other than storage or hauling of
regulated garbage; (c) Be moved off the establishment’s property to be
repaired or decommissioned.
3. Compliance Agreement: Once approved, the establishment must maintain
and abide by a valid APHIS approved compliance agreement (PPQ Form
519). The regulated garbage compliance agreement Request for Approval
Packet consists of the PPQ Form 519 and all addenda, including the request
for approval and operating procedures.
APHIS/CBP officials must be allowed to observe, during regular
operational hours, all regulated garbage handling activities performed
by all employees and subcontractors under the approved compliance
agreement holder. All records required by this agreement must be
made available to APHIS/CBP officials upon request.
4. Storage: Once received by the establishment, regulated garbage must not
remain in the establishment’s possession for more than 72 hours without
prior approval in writing from the APHIS Administrator (i.e., regulated
garbage must be processed or hauled within this time frame).
5. Spill Kits/Cleaning and Disinfection: The dock area and the area around
grinders, sterilizers, incinerators, compactors, and/or dumpsters must be
kept clean and free of loose garbage at all times. All wooden surfaces in
garbage handling areas (including storage areas and inside transport
vehicles) must be treated so that surfaces are impervious to water and can
be cleaned and disinfected. If a spill occurs, it must be disinfected using an
APHIS authorized disinfectant. Refer to APHIS Authorized Disinfectants
For Use When Handling APHIS Regulated Garbage. Note: For regulated
garbage contamination on aircraft and in all food handling areas, cleaning
and sanitation should only be done with an EPA approved sanitizer/
detergent.

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6. Record Keeping: (see Guidelines for Regulated Garbage Record-Keeping
and examples below:
 APHIS Regulated Garbage Training Record
 APHIS Regulated Garbage Collection Log
 APHIS Regulated Garbage Spill Log5
7. Establishment Training Program: Follow the Guidelines for the Regulated
Garbage Written Training Program including the You Tube video No Free
Ride.
8. Notification of Changes: If an establishment makes changes or is aware of
changes needed that deviate from the APHIS approved compliance
agreement, the RG CA holder must immediately notify the local CBP or
PPQ office.
9. Establishments requesting approval to process regulated garbage must use
one of the following APHIS approved processors:
 Sterilizer6
 Incinerator
 Grinder
 Other equipment/technology approved by APHIS for regulated
garbage
10. The area surrounding the establishment must be kept in generally clean
condition.
11. For updates to APHIS electronic documents, visit the APHIS Regulated
Garbage website.
12. If transporting regulated garbage across State lines, the establishment must
produce evidence of written communication with Federal, State, and local
agencies regarding requirements for interstate transport of garbage. Refer
to Procedures for Companies Requesting Approval to Transport Regulated
Garbage Interstate.

NEXT: Proceed to the checklist below to continue your
request for approval.

How to request an amendment to an approved regulated garbage
compliance agreement (RGCA): If you are approved to handle regulated
garbage under an APHIS regulated garbage compliance agreement and wish to
make changes to the administrative/operational information in the originally
approved RGCA, you must submit a letter of request for an amendment to
APHIS, using this template to reflect the applicable changes.
5 This log sheet is used for disinfection or disinfection/sanitation.
6 The thermocouple/data logger and the sterilizer thermocouple must be calibrated annually by an
authorized source (eg. technician/manufacturer).

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Name of establishment/company (Unit #):
Address:
City:

State:

Phone:

Zip Code:

_ Email address:

Name and title of establishment representative:
Date:
Specific location requesting approval for:
APHIS will approve the compliance agreement to handle and/or process APHIS regulated garbage if the
establishment meets all applicable APHIS requirements in this template.
Type of regulated garbage handling activities (check all applicable categories):

Back-caterer

Cleaner

Caterer

Hauler/Cartage Firm

Fixed Base Operator

Storage/Transfer Station

Vessel (including Cruise Ship Operator)

 Military Base

Processor

A. ALL ESTABLISHMENTS/REQUESTERS
1. Does the establishment have leak-proof receptacles (including plastic bags at
least 3 mil thick and/or containers)?

Current Status
(Check One)

Y
Y

N
N

N/A
N/A

Y

N

N/A

Y

N

N/A

Y
Y

N
N

N/A
N/A

c. Are tightly covered, leak-proof receptacles readily available for use to store
APHIS regulated garbage?

Y

N

N/A

d. Are all containers marked as required by the compliance agreement
(including but not limited to REGULATED GARBAGE)?

Y

N

N/A

2. Does the establishment have an existing approved regulated garbage
compliance agreement?
3. Is this request for approval to add a regulated garbage handling activity to an
existing approved regulated garbage compliance agreement?
4. Have employees reviewed/viewed the required APHIS regulated garbage
training/videos?
Note: All employees must be trained prior to handling APHIS regulated
garbage, and must review the training annually or as often as government
officials require. Records are required to be kept on file for three (3) years.
5. a. Will regulated garbage be stored, locked, and secured on the premises?
b. Is there a documented pest control program for rodents, birds, and other
vermin?

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A. ALL ESTABLISHMENTS/REQUESTERS (continued)
6. Is a spill kit that meets APHIS requirements readily available to address
surfaces contaminated with regulated garbage? Please provide a photograph
of the spill kit and items to clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces as outlined
in the document APHIS Authorized Disinfectants for Use When Handling
APHIS Regulated Garbage.

Current Status
(Check One)

Y

N

N/A

Y

N

N/A

Y

N

N/A

9. Does the establishment have a written local regulated garbage operating
procedure?
Attach a copy to the request for approval.

Y

N

N/A

10. Has the establishment submitted record keeping logs (e.g. spill/disinfection/
sanitation log, training log, garbage collection log)?

Y

N

N/A

Y

N

N/A

Y

N

N/A

Y

N

N/A

Note: A spill/disinfection/sanitation log is required to be kept on file for three (3)
years, noting any spill and subsequent cleaning and disinfection/sanitation.
Important! The regulated garbage compliance agreement holder must
immediately notify CBP and/or APHIS officials anytime contamination occurs
outside of your establishment.
7. Do you understand and concur that any article, means of transportation for offloaded regulated garbage from the conveyance (air/maritime) or other surfaces,
including but not limited to carts, pallets, machinery, handling containers, trucks,
dock or warehouse surface contaminated with regulated garbage spills, must
be cleaned and disinfected?
8. Do you agree to clean after each use all reusable tools/equipment used for
handling regulated garbage spills over a drain leading to an approved sewage
system or directly into a receptacle (i.e., containment tank, plastic bag) for proper
disposal?

11. Do you understand and agree that in the event the establishment is unable to
conduct regulated garbage handling activities, or is ordered to suspend its
regulated garbage handling activities, then you will be required to immediately
notify local CBP/APHIS officials, and all your customers of your temporary or
permanent inability to handle regulated garbage activities?
12. Does your establishment understand and agree to comply with all core
requirements?
13. Will recycling materials be separated prior to offloading the conveyance and is
it specified in the operating procedures?
Note: Materials co-mingled with APHIS regulated garbage must be handled as
regulated.

14. NEXT: PROCEED to the request for approval questions specific to the type of regulated garbage service you are
applying to provide.
15. For government use only: Did the establishment meet the above
requirements to handle regulated garbage? If no, ensure you also provide
additional information in the Comment Section.
16. Did you review the core requirements with the requester?

Y

N

Y

N

17. Note: To facilitate monitoring, establishments can provide advance notification to the APHIS/CBP office at
(phone number) of any offloads or pickups of regulated garbage.

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B. CLEANERS, CATERERS, FIXED BASE OPERATORS

Current Status
(Check One)

1. If providing service inside the aircraft or in food handling areas, does the
establishment have an EPA approved sanitizer for use in aircraft or in food handling
areas acceptable to the owner/operator of the air/maritime conveyance?

Y

N

N/A

2. If washing reusable dishware, glassware, silverware and/or trays, does the
establishment use an automatic dishwasher as required?

Y

N

N/A

3. NEXT: PROCEED to your next category (if applicable) or to the signature page and validate your responses.
4. For government use only: Did the establishment meet the above requirements to
handle regulated garbage? If no, ensure you also provide additional information
below.

Y

C. HAULERS (Cartage Firms)
1. Are the APHIS-approved containment areas in vehicles and/or receptacles used
for transporting regulated garbage also used for material that is not regulated by
APHIS (for example, domestic garbage or medical waste) and are handling
requirements outlined in the operating procedures?
2. Do vehicles used to transport regulated garbage meet APHIS requirements?
3. If regulated garbage will be moved off of port/establishment premises, has a map
or route been submitted?
4. Is the establishment aware that they must comply with other Federal, State, and
local agency requirements having jurisdiction over transporting garbage?

N

Current Status
(Check One)

Y

N

N/A

Y
Y

N
N

N/A
N/A

Y

N

N/A

Important: If not, advise that APHIS regulated garbage compliance agreement
approval does not exempt the establishment from complying with other regulatory
agencies.
5. List pickup companies/locations in the Comment Section of Checklist.
6. NEXT: PROCEED to your next category (if applicable) or to the signature page and validate your responses.
7. For government use only: Did the establishment meet the above requirements to
handle regulated garbage? If no, ensure you also provide additional information
below.

Y

N

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Current Status
(Check One)

D. AIRCRAFT BACK-CATERER1
1. Does the establishment agree to the following:
 Aircraft will depart from the U.S. airport at which it arrived to a foreign destination
within 12 hours of the time of arrival

Y

N

N/A

 Aircraft personnel will maintain tamper-proof compartments, cabinets, storage
areas and carts in which the materials authorized for back-catering will be kept
 Aircraft personnel will ensure that the meals are not removed from the
conveyance unless they are removed by an establishment under an RG CA or
by direct observation and handled as regulated garbage
 Aircraft personnel will maintain separation of materials authorized for backcatering to prevent cross-contamination or commingling with regulated garbage2
2. NEXT: PROCEED to your next category (if applicable) or to the signature page and validate your responses.
3. For government use only: Did the establishment meet the above requirements
for back-catering? If no, ensure you also provide additional information below.

Y

N

1

The airline, aircraft owner/operator is responsible for locking/securing/safeguarding conditions of the meals allowed for
back-catering.

2

Materials commingled or contaminated with regulated garbage will be treated as regulated garbage and must be offloaded
from the conveyance in accordance with APHIS RG handling requirements.

E. VESSELS

Current Status
(Check One)

1. Is the regulated garbage maintained in covered, leak-proof receptacles inside the
rail while on-board the vessel as required?

Y

N

N/A

2. Are any regulated garbage activities of the stevedores or longshoremen outlined in
the vessel’s operating procedures as required?1

Y

N

N/A

3. NEXT: PROCEED to your next category (if applicable) or to the signature page and validate your responses.
4. For government use only: Did the establishment meet the above requirements to
handle regulated garbage? If no, ensure you also provide additional information
below.
1

Y

N

Stevedores or longshoremen must be under the direct supervision of a trained employee or trained subcontractor under the
approved regulated garbage compliance agreement when handling regulated garbage for the vessel.

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F. PROCESSORS
(Grinders/Sterilizers/Incinerators)
1. For grinders:
a. Is the grinder directly connected to an EPA-approved sewage system?1
b. Are there other disposal methods in place for materials that cannot be
processed by grinding? If yes, explain in the Comment Section of the Checklist
how the regulated materials not processed by grinding are handled/processed.
2. For sterilizers:
a. Have the thermocouple/data logger and the sterilizer thermocouple been
calibrated by an authorized source (e.g. technician/manufacturer)?

Current Status
(Check One)

Y

N

N/A

Y

N

N/A

Y

N

N/A

Y

N

N/A

Y

N

N/A

Y

N

N/A

Y

N

N/A

Important: If yes, present a copy of the certificate.
b. Has CBP or PPQ verified the calibration of the autoclave or non-pressurized
cooker?2
Note: The internal garbage temperature (not the chamber temperature) must be
at least 212 ºF for at least 30 minutes.
c. Is a working thermocouple or other necessary equipment for verification of
calibration available for determination of required temperature?
Important: Records for time and temperature on each batch must be verified that
they have met minimum requirements. If minimum requirements are met, the
records are initialed and dated by the operator, then signed by the supervisor. If
minimum requirements are not met, the batch must be immediately reprocessed.
3. For incinerators:
a. Is all garbage reduced to ash (other than metal and glass)?
b. In the comment section, describe the procedure for identifying and re-burning
regulated garbage not burned to ash during the initial processing.
Note: Ensure that the Guidelines for Regulated Garbage Record Keeping are
being followed.
4. Is the area surrounding the processing equipment kept in generally clean
condition?

5. NEXT: PROCEED to your next category (if applicable) or to the signature page and validate your responses.
6. For government use only: Did the establishment meet the above requirements to
handle regulated garbage? If no, ensure you also provide additional information
below.

Y

N

1

The sewage system cannot be a septic tank or storage lagoon.

2

Verification of calibration of the autoclave or non-pressurized cooker must be conducted by CBP or PPQ at least every six
months and after repairs or significant malfunctions.

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G. STORAGE ESTABLISHMENTS
1. Is/are the storage facility(ies) properly marked, including receptacles, buildings,
sheds, or any exterior structure hosting smaller receptacles, and that each
containment device will be clearly marked with “REGULATED GARBAGE”?

Current Status
(Check One)

Y

N

N/A

2. NEXT: PROCEED to your next category (if applicable) or to the signature page and validate your responses.
3. For government use only: Did the establishment meet the above requirements to
handle regulated garbage? If no, ensure you also provide additional information
below.

Y

N

Comment Section

ALL ESTABLISHMENTS
Comments from the checklist requiring further description, to include items that require
action, if any:

Operating Procedures (see Guidelines for Writing Operating Procedures for Handling APHIS
Regulated Garbage and attach separate pages as

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Request for Approval Packet

In addition to this request for approval packet, please also attach the following information to the
establishment letter of request to handle APHIS Regulated Garbage (insert number of pages for each
item below):
1. Establishment Operating Procedures, including back-up system (
2. Establishment Training Program (

pages)

pages)

3. Establishment Record-Keeping Documents (APHIS Regulated Garbage (a) Training Record; (b)
Collection Log; and (c) Spill/Disinfection/Sanitation Log) (
pages)
4. (If applicable) Calibration Information (
5. (If applicable) Cartage route/map (

pages)

pages)

6. (If applicable) Any other addenda locally specific to the establishment or port (

pages)

Deficiencies/violations noted (attach separate pages as necessary):
Time allowed to correct deficiencies not immediately resolved:

Deficiencies resolved at the time of inspection:

Yes

No

By signing this Compliance Agreement, the signatory acknowledges that information concerning his/
her establishment, including but not limited to the name of the establishment, location of
establishment, and contact information with phone numbers, will be included on lists of APHIS
approved regulated garbage handlers that are available to the public.
Printed Name of Establishment Authorized Employee
Establishment Authorized Employee Signature and Title

Date

Printed Name of Agency (CBP/APHIS) Official
CBP/APHIS Official Signature and Title

Date

A copy should be provided to the establishment employee.
Check applicable box below:
Copy Provided at Visit

Copy Will Be Provided After Visit

By E-mail

By FAX

By Mail

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